Where Angels Fear to Tread

Part Seventeen

Rebirth

Author's Notes: This chapter under went a major re-write. See, I was writing the next chapter, but this idea suddenly came to me, and to fit it in (because I had to use it, it was that great) I had to revise. So, half the events in this chapter previously are in the next chapter. This is, in essence, a new chapter. You MUST re-read since it has been almost completly re-writen. If you don't read it, you'll be missing a lot.

Love you all!

LF-chan

> >

Gohan hadn't been expecting Videl to tell him what she did about Xavier. Nor did he really believe it at first, but in the end, he knew she was right. Gohan had been over defensive because he didn't want what happened to him happen to the children in Xavier's care. He knew better know, though. Xavier only wanted to help the children, only wanted them to live normal lives and be able to help people like Gohan himself attempted to do.

Xavier wasn't above the prejudices of the world though, Gohan had seen that in the way the X-men treated the Brotherhood. Not that it was entirely Xavier's fault, what had started out as a childish squabble had escalated before anyone could see what was happening. But that's where Gohan could step in. He knew how to help the Brotherhood even if Xavier didn't, and he knew the Bortherhood wouldn't have lasted long at the Institute, the fighting between both sets of students was too great.

"So, all in all, it was only to protect them, he never intended for them to have any real combat experience?" Gohan tapped a finger against the counter. "That's okay, I suppose. I guess I jumped to conclusions."

"I did too, Gohan. It's hardly your fault, and Kurt was so angry that he didn't exactly jump to defend the man."

"I know, I know, but still. I feel as though I should have KNOWN. I mean. . . well, you know." Gohan sighed and put his head in his hands. "It's just. . . you know."

"I know," Videl smiled gently.

Gohan sighed ans smiled at his mate sending waves of reassurance over their bond--the mental connection every Saiya-Jin couple got when they mated. Despite being half human and mating with a human, Gohan still formed the bond, just as both his father and Vegita had with their mates.

"We will have to go apologize at some point," Videl told Gohan softly. "Besides, you and Logan should get together and find out if there is any way we could help them out. If they're going to be in the line of fire, we should help. I don't want them dying like your father has."

"Three times." Gohan muttered, then added, more loudly, "Fine, then. We'll go after school lets out today. Is that all right?"

"That's fine. I'll make sure to be here. And tell the brats," Videl streatched and got ready to go into the office. Bulma had requested that Videl look into some of Capsule Corperations affairs while they were there. Gohan grumbled something and rolled out of bed, hitting the floor with a bang. Videl burst into laughter as Gohan made a face and stumbled to the bathroom, not even bothering to fly.

Kurt was wandering around the school trying to find Rogue, and running into Lance instead. He was sent to the floor, after slamming into the lockers, and groaned. He cursed softly, rubbing the goose-egg that was now forming on his head. "Hey, Lance."

"Nice to see you, Blue," Lance snorted. "Clumsey much?"

"I was looking for Rogue," Kurt snapped, rubbing his head. "Instead I found you. How am I that lucky?"

"Shut up, Freak. Rogue's in the gym trying to kill the punching bag, okay? Stop snapping at me."

"Go find Otousan, he wants to talk to you," Kurt flicked Lance off, who repeated the gesture, and both headed off in their seperate directions.

"You really shouldn't do that," Rogue's voice sounded as Kurt turned the corner.

"Holy shit," Kurt clutched his chest. "Don't DO that!"

Rogue grinned for a moment, then turned serious and crossed her arms. "You shouldn't rile Lance like that. He doesn't like it. He thinks you're belittling him."

"He belittles me," Kurt muttered. "It's not enough that normal people made fun of me, mutants all do it too. I hate it. I mean, really truely hate it." No one really knew how much Kurt hated his appearence being made fun of, of people running away from him because he just looked different.

Rogue sighed. "I'll talk to Lance, okay sugar? You lay off the taunting, he'll stop making fun of you. Okay?"

"Okay," Kurt sighed. "Though, I don't mind him calling me blue. I can handle that. It's the freak that gets me."

"I'll talk to him," Rogue repeated patiently. "Now, what were you looking for me for?"

"Otousan asked me to tell you that he's going to try to get custody of the Brotherhood and wanted to know if you were going to stay there or go to Xavier's mansion since you were already thinking about it."

"I think I'm going to go on ahead to the mansion, what difference does it make?"

Kurt shrugged. "He just wondered how many papers he needed to fill out. But I'll tell him you're taking care of yourself."

"Would I get to live with you?"

"I don't know what the arrangement will be. They won't be split up, we're sure on that account, but that's about all we know," Kurt sighed. "I just hope it all works out. Something tells me the only reason they're so. . . bad. . . is because they've been shoved from house to house and family to family so often."

"Probably. Now, what does that have to do with me?"

"I just wondered because of the papers. Otousan told me to ask."

"And he didn't ask me himself because?"

"He's talking to Lance," Kurt grinned. "That's why he had me ask you."

Rogue just rolled her eyes. "Your dad is effiecient about everything, isn't he."

"That's just how he is," Kurt shrugged. "But he loves me dearly, otherwise he would have given up."

"There's a lot of people that would have."

"But Otousan is not one of them," Kurt told her, then glanced at the clock. "I'm going to be late! Bai bai Rogue!"

"Bye, Kurt," Rogue blinked, then also glanced at the clock. "Shit." She took off in the opposite direction, hoping she wouldn't be late.

"Hey, Kurt!" Lance has spent the last twenty minutes attempting to find the demonic-looking mutant. "You're dad wanted me to ask if you minded moving in with us."

Kurt turned and blinked. "What for?"

"The school thinks we need more supervision and Gohan was willing to take guardianship if you didn't mind. He's going to call the judge soon and wanted me to hunt you down and ask you since he had to meet with the principal for a moment." Lance scowled. "I don't see why you have to move in with us. We would be okay on our own."

Kurt bit his tongue and didn't say what he was thinking, and Trunks and Goten, close enough to hear the conversation with their Saiya-Jin ears, clapped their hands over their mouths. "Otousan just wants what is best for you." Kurt replied. "And no, I don't mind. I'll tell him myself if you'll point me in the right direction."

"The principal's office." Lance turned and made his way to the parking lot. "Come on, Pietro, Todd, Fred. Let's get out of here."

"They weren't bothering you again were they?" Rogue's soft voice made Kurt jump.

"I didn't hear you," Kurt clutched his chest over his heart, gasping. "Wear a bell, would you?"

Rogue threw her head back and laughed. "No thanks, sugar."

Kurt stuck out his tongue and Rogue continued to giggle. "Real mature there, Fuzzy," She tried to stop laughing, really she did, but Kurt's pout made it awfully hard.

"Hey, Rogue," Goten approached shyly. "How are you?"

"Goten!" Rogue's eyes lit up. "I'm fine. How was school?"

"Great!" Goten felt his face heat up. "Look, you want to go to a movie or something?"

Rogue paused. "Are you asking me out?"

"Well. . . yeah," Goten looked like a cherry, his ears seeming to burn. "I mean. . . if you'd want to go on a date. . ."

The southern girl heistated. "Goten, you know I can't touch you. . . I mean, not without my gloves or cloth or something. What kind of date would that be?"

"Well, since I'd be in the best company in the world I think it would be a pretty good one." Goten smiled. "I know what your power is, Rogue, and I'm not afraid. I know I won't be able to kiss you good night or whatever, but I think I'd like to go out with you. Dating isn't always about finding someone to make out with."

Rogue smiled. "Then I would love to."

Trunks gagged quietly next to Kurt. "This is so sappy I'm going to hurl."

"Oh shut up. Marie deserves to be happy." Kurt elbowed his best friend. "And Goten obviously likes her. Besides, they may have a chance with Goten's power over his life force. The fact that he's half alien won't hurt either."

Trunks shrugged. Kurt did have a point. "I'll see you at seven, then?" Goten was still red and Rogue was also blushing.

"Yeah." Rogue took off like a shot then, trying to hide her pink cheeks. Kurt snorted softly.

"They have such huge crushes on each other it's not even funny," Trunks muttered. Then, more loudly, he added, "Come on, Goten."

Goten made a face and headed out while Kurt went to fine Gohan about moving in with the brotherhood. He hoped everything would be all right, he really did.

The next week was a blur of activity. Goten's date with Rogue led to a second one on Sunday night, and Gohan bought a larger house that the group could move into. It was closer to the Institute, which made Kurt half upset since he really wanted to talk to Logan more often than he had been. Logan was like an uncle to him, and Kurt had to admit that it was nice having an adult to talk to that wasn't his parents.

The mutant pulled himself from his musings remembering the Z-Senshi would be there soon to help them move. He hadn't seen them since the party two weeks ago and was excited to have them there. Kurt was worried about living with Fred. None of the others harassed him nearly as much as Fred did, and that really bothered Kurt.

"This is our new house?" Kurt felt his jaw drop and saw Lance mimick the gesture on his other side. "This is amazing!"

"Wow." Even Peitro was stock still. "We live here?"

"We will when we move in." Gohan pushed everyone forward. He gave them a quick tour of the house. The first floor was the living area and the second floor was the bedrooms. They each got their own, though the rooms were fairly small. No one minded however, since sometimes it was just nice to have a little corner that only belonged to them.

It didn't take long to move, a lot of things the brotherhood had were broken or not needed, and new things were bought to replace the old, run down, broken ones. Todd was delerious. "No one wanted me before, yo," He told Gohan. "This is great!"

Gohan smiled. "That's about what Kurt told me when I first spoke to him." An affectionate smile graced his features. "Now let's hurry up. There's still a lot to do."

With everyone helping, however, nothing took long. Painting was finished quickly, thanks mostly to Vegita and Goku who had the time of their lives seeing who could do a room neatest and fastest (Gohan rolled his eyes and stayed out of the way), and Bulma who had fixed some wiring and other would-be problems. Being friends with the smartest woman in the world certinaly had its uses.

It was dark when the Z-Senshi teleported back home via Goku, and Gohan called everyone into the family room for a brief meeting.

"Videl and I need to lay down the ground rules," Gohan announced. Pan yawned and curled up against Kurt's leg. "Cerfew is at midnight except for friday and saturday when its at one in the morning. Don't ruin anything that isn't your's. Don't go into anyone's room without permission. Your rooms are your safe havens. Don't mess with that. Even Videl and I will ask permission provided we don't think you're hiding anything illegal in there like drugs. If we catch you doing drugs we'll make you wish you'd never been born, got it?

"Don't be afraid to come to either of us. We'll always try to help, okay?" Gohan smiled. "I don't know about you lot, but I'm exhausted. I'll see you in the morning." Gohan picked up Pan and headed up the stairs, yawning as he went.

"Since we're living in the same house, can we call a truce?" Kurt held out one three fingered hand. "I won't make fun of you or your friends if you don't make fun of mine, okay? And. . . please don't call me a freak?"

"If you won't call us that. It's a deal." Lance shook Kurt's hand. "You know, blue boy, you ain't so bad after all."

Kurt gave Lance a lopsided smile. "Thanks."

Trunks nodded. "What was the fight over in the first place?"

"The x-geeks thought they were better than us. No one wanted up because we were from normal homes or whatever. We were freaks and cast-offs." Lance shrugged. "Except maybe Peitro. His dad wanted him."

"Yeah, but Dad didn't want my sister. I haven't seen her in years." Peitro frowned. "I don't even know where she is."

"I bet we could find her, maybe she could come here. We have one room left, don't we?" Trunks suggusted. "And even if she is dangerous, she couldn't hurt most of us, right?"

"I'll talk to Otousan in the morning," Kurt yawned. "I'm with him right now though. It's time for bed."

The group agreed and, once by one, headed up the stairs and to their rooms. They were mentally exhausted. Gohan watched them go up the stairs from his vantage point of Pan's room and smiled looking at Videl. "I think we have the best sons in the world." He didn't realize that Pietro heard him.

Pietro wandered into Lance's room, follwed by the rest of the brotherhood and plopped onto Lance's bed, looking shocked.

"What do you want, Pietro?" Lance flopped onto the bed.

"He called us his sons." Pietro replied, numb.

"What?" Lance shot up, staring at the dumbfounded teen.

"He called us his sons. He said, 'I think we have the best sons in the world.' Before us, he only had Kurt." Pietro looked shocked, his eyes wide.

"I've never been called. . . anyone's. . ." Todd trailed off.

"It could be a trick," Lance finally said.

"Not from Gohan." Heads whipped about to face Trunks in the doorway. "He can't lie. Not that he tries. Gohan is the strongest warrior in the world, maybe even the universe and he can't lie. He doesn't want to. If he called you his sons, he means that."

"No one ever wants me," Todd offered sadly. "Why is Gohan any different?"

Trunks half turned on his way out. "Because he's already saved you once. You just didn't know it. And he would do it again."

"I don't understand." Lance looked at his hands. "What is there worth saving?"

Trunks shrugged. "I can't answer that." And then Trunks was gone.

Lance looked at the others. "If he wants us, then he's got to take us all. The good and the bad." Lance was about to test Gohan's limits.

The next day at school, Kurt was wandering around before first peroid, mind clearly on other things. He nearly ran into Duncan, who had Todd pinned against the lockers. "Hey! Put him down!" Kurt prepared to fight the jock as Todd looked at Kurt in shock.

"Why do that for me, yo?" Todd asked. "Did Gohan tell you to?"

Kurt shook his head. "That's what family does."

"So you want to join him?" Duncan growled.

"No, I want you to put him down." Kurt frowned.

Duncan made a wild grab for Kurt, who ducked out of the way and kicked him, slamming him into the lockers and making him drop Todd. Todd scampered behind Kurt and blinked. The fourteen year old was the youngest of the mutants and made all of them a little protective. Duncan moved again, angry about being bested by a stupid little geek and Kurt leapt over Duncan's head and kicked him in the back. "Stay away from my family," Kurt hissed, slamming Duncan face first into the lockers. "Or this will seem like a nice get to know you gift, got it?"

Duncan groaned and Kurt let him drop to the ground, glaring at him as he fell. "Come on, Todd."

"Family?" Todd finally echoed as Kurt led the way down the hall.

"Gohan adopted you," Kurt told Todd, blinking in confusion. "Whether I like you or not, you're my brother and I love you. And brothers protect each other. So even if I don't like you sometimes, I'll always protect you."

Todd's gaze shifted to the ground and he nodded. "Thanks, yo."

Holographic brown eyes met mossy yellow and Kurt nodded. "Anytime. . . little brother." Then Kurt left Todd in front of his classroom, sweeping down the hallway to his own, Todd staring after him, mouth agape and eyes wide.

"Kurt!" Gohan caught up to him moments later. "Have you seen Lance? He's not in first period! He and I walked towards there and the teacher said he left!"

"I only just saw Todd. Maybe Okassan knows?" Kurt shrugged and Gohan thanked him, hugging him gently before running away.

"Otousan!" Kurt called, making Gohan look back. "He's testing you."

"I know," Gohan replied softly, looking sad. "And that's why I'm so worried. I have to find him. What if he hurts himself?"

Kurt nodded in understanding and smiled to his father, continuing down the hall, hoping Gohan would find Lance before the elder boy did do something dumb. Kurt had just found a new family, and even if he didn't get along with them before, they were his family now. And he couldn't abandon them. But Gohan also wouldn't want him to leave school. Kurt resolutly nodded. He'd look at lunch time if Lance wasn't found by then.

Gohan took to the air as soon as he was out of the school, worried and terrified. Hundreds of horrible ideas ran through his mind as he combed Bayville. It was a downside to having a genius mind. He was able to do complex things, but he could also think about horrible scenarios for his son to have happen to him.

"Lance?" Gohan called, racing down through the air. "Lance! Answer me!" Wider and wider he circled, growing more and more concerned as he looked for his son.

Eventually he found the teen, half hidden under a bridge. Gohan landed and rushed to him, relief coloring his face. "Don't you ever run away like that again, young man!" Gohan tried to reign in his temper, and succeeded in not yelling at Lance, but his voice was a little higher than normal.

"Why not?" Lance sneered. "It's not like you care."

"I was worried!"

"Because the state won't pay you if I disappear! That's all I'm worth. Whatever it is you get paid a month to take care of me! I don't know why you saved me! I'm worthless, there's nothing left to save!"

Gohan's face tightened in anger, and Lance gulped as his shirt was fisted in Gohan's powerful hands, the boy being pulled upwards until only the tips of his toes touched the ground. "Don't you ever say that again," Gohan hissed, shaking Lance slightly. "Don't you ever tell me you aren't worth anything. My father died for you and I damn well near followed. Don't you ever tell me you have no worth."

Lance had never realized how strong Gohan really was, and even now didn't think he understood. Lance's hands were wrapped around Gohan's larger ones and it was amazing to realize how large Gohan's hands were. The hands of a fighter, Lance thought dimly. Lance stared at Gohan with wide eyes, and Gohan suddenly felt very, very old compared to the teen. Battles had aged Gohan far beyond his years and the difference was astounding. Lance was still a child fighting in a play war. His hands were not yet soiled with the blood of his enemies, not like Gohan's.

"Died?" Lance finally managed, snapping Gohan back to reality. Gohan blinked for a moment, then remembered the conversation they were having. "Why?" The boy sounded so lost that Gohan wanted to cry. He put Lance back on the ground and hugged the teen tightly, tucking Lance's head under his chin like his father used to do, like he did for Kurt and Pan.

"Because we love you." Gohan said softly.

"No one loves me," Lance admonished, voice choked and muffled, face hidded in Gohan's chest. "No one ever has. My own parents abandoned me. Everyone abandons me. Why should I think you'll be any different?" Lance had never been held in a father's hug before, never felt the strong beat of his father's heart in his ear, never felt the soft fatherly kisses that Gohan pressed into the teen's hair. Never been rocked or held or loved. Not like Gohan was doing.

"Oh my son," Gohan breathed, resting his cheek on the boy's soft hair. "What have they done to you?"

The soft voice and the gentle movements made Lance huddle closer, wanting a father's love more than he could have ever imagined. With a choked sound that Gohan couldn't discern, Lance began to cry. His tears were silent and hot, running down his face to wet Gohan's white shirt. "Don't leave me," Lance begged, fisting his hands in the demi Saiya-jin's shirt. "Please don't leave me."

Gohan pulled Lance to the ground in a seated position, keeping the boy on his lap as he rocked him gently back and forth, rubbing his back and offering none-sense words of comfort. Lance sobbed into the shirt of the only father he'd ever known until he fell asleep. When Gohan felt the tenson fade from the teen's body, he lifted him gently and flew towards his home, Lance tucked in his arms.

Videl met him at the door. "What happened?" Her voice was colored with worry at the sight of the emotionally drained Lance.

"He's frightened," Gohan murmured softly, taking Lance up the stairs to tuck him into bed. "He thinks we'll leave him."

"Well, we'll just have to prove he's wrong," Videl replied resolutly. "No matter what."

Author's Notes: Thank you for being so patient with me, and still reading this even though udates are so few and far between. I hop you enjoyed it and please review for me. It makes me want to keep writing through my writer's block (so do e-mail's and the occasional IM conversation when I've actually got time to spend online). So. Review. Please. And, as always, flames are for S'mores!

Love you all,

LF-chan